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How To Apply

HOW TO APPLY FOR A NON-IMMIGRANT VISA

More information is available by clicking on the steps highlighted in blue.

To begin, click here to schedule an appointment through our online appointment system.

Note: You should arrive no earlier than 20 minutes before your scheduled appointment. If your visa is approved, you will be given a visa issuance receipt. Anyone holding this receipt may pick up your passport and visa on the next business day, between 3:00-4:00pm, Monday-Thursday only.

If your visa application is denied, your passport will be returned to you, along with all your supporting documentation, immediately at the end of the interview. Please see our section on Visa Denials for additional information.

DETAILED NIV APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

You will need access to the internet and a printer in order to fill-out an on-line application, print the application, and schedule an appointment for a visa interview. We regret that we cannot accept hand written applications.

  1. Please read through these instructions, and then click here to begin.
  2. Again, please read through the instructions on the page, and then click on the box for "DS-156 Electronic Visa Application Forms" on the bottom of the page.
  3. Enter the information requested into the appropriate spaces on the form. Please answer all questions. Your answers must be in English and must use English characters. If a particular question does not apply to your circumstances, do not leave it blank – Please write "N/A," or "Not applicable."
  4. Click on the "continue" button at the bottom of the form and print the document. You should have three pages: A two page DS-156 and a barcode sheet. The pages must be printed in black ink on letter-size white paper. The two-dimensional barcode on page 3 must be printed legibly.
  5. After you have printed the form, sign and date it, and attach a 5 cm x 5 cm passport photograph with a white background.
  6. Next, click on the box at the bottom of the page to "Schedule Appointment." You will be prompted to enter the barcode number from your electronic visa application form. You will not be able to schedule an appointment without this barcode.
  7. Choose the date and time of your interview and enter the requested information. Print out the NIV appointment confirmation page. You will be required to present this page at the U.S. Embassy on the day of your interview.
    Please Note: The online program will not allow applicants to save their data. Thus, when you close the electronic visa application, all applicant data will be lost. Also, the interview date you schedule can only be changed via the internet using the same online scheduling system.
  8. Male applicants between the ages of 16 to 45 years are also required to complete a Form DS-157, which can be downloaded from this website: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html

AT THE TIME OF YOUR VISA INTERVIEW, ALL APPLICANTS MUST BRING THE FOLLOWING:

  1. A passport valid for 6 months beyond your intended stay in the U.S.
  2. "Nonimmigrant Visa Application" (Form DS-156) completed online.
  3. Males between 16-45 years old must complete a "Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application" (Form DS-157)
  4. All student visa applicants must also complete a Form DS-158, which can be downloaded from this website: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html
  5. Appointment confirmation page from the online appointment system.
  6. One 5 cm x 5 cm passport photograph with a white background.
  7. $131 application fee to be paid at the U.S. Embassy at the time of the interview. This fee must be paid in U.S. dollars, cash only.

FORMS

DS-156 Nonimmigrant Visa Application: All applicants, including children traveling on a parent’s passport, must complete the electronic DS-156 visa application form online (see the link below). Complete the form and print one (1) copy of the form and barcode page. A unique bar code will appear on the printed form, which you will need in order to schedule your appointment. One 5 cm square "full face" photo with a white background must be glued to this application form. Please note: The online DS-156 form does not transmit any information to the U.S. Consulate electronically; persons with handwritten DS-156 forms will not be permitted to submit their applications on the day of the interview.

Click here for the DS-156 Electronic Visa Application Form
When completing the DS-156 EVAF, please pay special attention to these areas:

IMPORTANT: Each electronic form will have a barcode used for scanning the application when you appear at the Embassy for your interview appointment. Unacceptable barcodes (those that cannot be read by our scanner due to poor printer quality and other factors) will not be accepted. Applicants will be asked to exit the Embassy and return with a readable barcode.

Unreadable Barcode                                         Readable Barcode

DS-157 Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application: All male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45 are required to complete this form. This form is non-electronic; it can be filled out manually. Click here for form DS-157 (PDF)

DS-158 Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant: All applicants applying for F (Student), J (Exchange Visitor) and M (Non-academic Student) visas, and their dependents (F-2, J-2 and M-2 visas), must complete the DS-158 application form in English. This form is non-electronic; it can be filled out manually. Click here for form DS-158 (PDF)

SEVIS I-20 Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant (F-1) Student Status: For F-1 & M-1 visas, student visa applicants must obtain an I-20 form from an accredited school, college or university in the United States. The form must be signed by the applicant and by a school official. We cannot issue a student visa more than 120 days prior to the start date or registration date as provided on the I-20. Moreover, we cannot issue a student visa after the date of registration on the I-20 has passed. Please note: Generally-speaking, the immigration authorities in the United States will not admit students more than 30 days in advance of their start dates. Student visa applicants should consider these facts when making application and travel plans.

SEVIS DS-2019: For J-1 cultural exchange students, a DS-2019 form is required from your cultural exchange program.

PHOTO REQUIREMENTS

Each visa applicant must submit one (1) 50mm square "full face", unmounted color photo, with white background taken within the past six months. A "full face" photo is one in which the applicant is facing the camera directly. The applicant should not be looking down or to either side, and the face should cover about 50 percent of the area of the photo. Although variations in hair styles and in head coverings make it difficult to rigorously define the term "face", in general, the head of the applicant, including both face and hair, should be shown from the crown of the head to the tip of the chin on top and bottom, and from hair line side-to-side. It is preferable that the ears be exposed. The key requirement is that the photograph clearly identifies the applicant.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Because each applicant’s situation is different, there is no set answer as to what documents are specifically required. The following documents have proven helpful in the past in determining an applicant’s eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa. Please click on the applicable visa category below.

Business/Visitor

  • An itinerary for your visit to the U.S., including contact names, addresses, and telephone numbers in each city
  • If your company is sponsoring your trip, your labor contract or business license, information about your company, and a letter stating your position within the company, the length of time you have been employed, the nature of your business in the U.S., and who will be paying for your expenses in the U.S.
  • If an individual is sponsoring your trip, a letter from the sponsor regarding the purpose of your visit and financial evidence that he/she has sufficient funds to cover your travel and other expenses (for example, Form I-134 Affidavit of Support, tax returns, employment letters, pay stubs, bank account statements, etc.)
  • Information about your employment, education, social or family relationships, and personal property can also help to demonstrate your ties in Zimbabwe

Students

  • For student visas, interviewing officers will review all aspects of an applicant’s situation relating to educational status, grades, the financial ability of the applicant’s family, the applicant’s long-range plans, as well as intent to return to Zimbabwe.
  • Transcripts and diplomas from previous educational institutions attended;
  • O-Level and A-Level scores, scores from standardized tests required by the educational institution such as the TOEFL or SAT;
  • Financial evidence (for example: tax records, bank books, income documents, business license, VAT certificates, labor contracts) showing that the student, his/her parents, or a sponsor have sufficient funds to cover his/her tuition and living expenses during the period of his/her intended study;
  • If a spouse and/or children plan to accompany the student, they must supply a Marriage Certificate and/or Birth Certificates as proof of their relationship to the student.
  • Returning students must show a valid I-20 and certified copy of all transcripts from all the school(s) in which the applicant has been enrolled in the U.S. The other documentation listed above is not necessary unless there have been substantial changes in the applicant's situation.

Medical treatment

If you are seeking medical treatment in the United States, you will first need to show you meet the requirements of the tourist (B-2) visa category:

  • You have strong ties to a residence in a foreign country to which you do not intend to abandon
  • Your trip to the United States will be for a definite temporary period and that you will return upon the conclusion of your visit
  • You have sufficient funds to cover the expenses of the visit and return passage

In addition, you will need to show credible information about your medical condition:

  • A letter or statement from a qualified health professional in Zimbabwe attesting to the nature of your condition and the lack of adequate treatment in Zimbabwe and the greater Southern African region.
  • A letter from a medical facility in the United States acknowledging awareness of your condition and ability to administer appropriate treatment.
  • A breakdown of estimated costs and a timetable for the treatment.
  • Submit evidence that you, your family, or your friends have the financial resources necessary to pay for treatment. Acceptable evidence could include one or more of the following:
  • A receipt for any pre-treatment deposit paid to the doctor or hospital of choice;
  • Proof of personal health insurance coverage;
  • Complete disclosure of all financial resources for the person or charitable organization funding the treatment.
  • Disclosure for individuals must include, at a minimum, U.S. Income Tax Return records for the most recent year, W-2 statements from employers for the past 3 years, and current bank statements.
  • Charitable organizations should provide IRS filings for the previous year, as well as evidence that the organization has sufficient funds to cover the treatment.
  • The person(s)/organization providing financial assistance must also submit a notarized letter indicating their intention to bear all costs associated with your treatment.

FEES

All applicants are required to pay the general application fee before the day of the visa interview. You may also be responsible for paying additional fees such as the SEVIS Fee for students and exchange visitors, and Reciprocal Visa Issuance Fees depending on your nationality.

General Visa Application Fee

There is a non-refundable nonimmigrant visa application fee of US $131 (US dollars only) payable at Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy at time of your non-immigrant visa appointment. A valid passport must also be presented at the time of payment.

At the beginning of your interview, the officer will confirm payment and provide each applicant a receipt. Each applicant, including children traveling on a parent's passport, must pay the fee and have a separate fee receipt. The application fee is a one-time, non-refundable fee.

SEVIS Fee (Additional Fee For All F, J and M Visa Visitors)

The SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitor Information System) I-901 fee is mandated by Congress to support the automated system that keeps track of students and exchange visitors to ensure that they maintain their lawful status in the United States. Each student or exchange scholar issued an initial Form I-20 or DS-2019 on or after September 1, 2004, is responsible for paying this fee before applying for a visa. Also, the visa officer must be able to verify that the relevant electronic record exists in the SEVIS database before an F-, J-, or M-class visa can be issued. SEVIS forms and electronic verification are also required for family member visas, i.e., F-2, M-2 or J-2 visas. Persons sponsored by the United States Government are exempt from payment of the SEVIS fee if their program code begins with the letter G. Most continuing students and exchange visitors will also not be required to pay the SEVIS fee.

The SEVIS fee is $200 for students (F/M) and $180 for exchange visitors (J1). Applicants required to pay the SEVIS fee will also have to complete Form I-901. Applicants should bring their SEVIS fee receipt to their visa interview. For instructions on how to pay the SEVIS fee, click here. For general information regarding the SEVIS fee, please refer to the SEVIS website.

Please note: Any applicant appearing for his or her interview who has not paid the SEVIS fee will not be permitted to interview and will be asked to return to the Consulate at a later time with proof that the fee has been paid.

Reciprocal Issuance Fees

There also may be additional visa issuance fees, depending on visa class, applicant nationality, and length of validity, among other factors. Issuance fees are based on reciprocity with other countries. Issuance fees are only charged if the visa is issued and they are paid at the cashier’s window in the Consular Section after the interview. For a list of reciprocal issuance fees by country, go to http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/reciprocity/index.htm

APPOINTMENT TIPS

All appointments for non-immigrant visa interviews must be made online. In order to make your appointment online, you must first complete and print the DS-156 visa application form, which includes a unique barcode number. On the online appointment page, enter this barcode number, your basic biographical information and passport number then select your appointment date and time. After you have finished, immediately print the first page of your appointment confirmation – you will need to present this document on the day of your interview.

WHEN YOU ARE READY TO SCHEDULE YOUR INTERVIEW APPOINTMENT, CLICK HERE.

ADDITIONAL TIPS AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE ONLINE APPOINTMENT SYSTEM:

IMPORTANT! Each applicant may only schedule one (01) appointment at a time. Please enter your applicant information carefully (especially your name and passport number) to ensure the information submitted is correct. After you have successfully scheduled your online appointment, remember to print out the confirmation page. If you wish to change or cancel your appointment, please input the name and confirmation ID as listed exactly on your confirmation page.

Appointment dates are currently available two months from the present date. Please note that days shaded in gray on the calendar are not available for interviews for a variety of reasons such as: weekends and holidays, full interview schedule, etc. For appointments after this two-month time frame, please return to the website at a later date to schedule your appointment

If you have lost your appointment confirmation, send an email to consularharare@state.gov with your complete name, date of birth, and date of original appointment. You will receive confirmation of your appointment via email.

To request an earlier interview date, you must first schedule a visa appointment online. Once you have obtained an appointment, please send an email to consularharare@state.gov. In the body of your email, please include your original appointment date/time, the barcode number from your Electronic Visa Application Form, and brief explanation why you need an expedited appointment. Do NOT call or walk-in to request an expedited visa interview. Send requests by email only. If your expedited visa request is approved, we will email you back a confirmation with your new interview appointment.

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